Sacramento daily record-union., 1887-08-15
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
THE PRODIGAL.

Sermon by Rev. Thos. FiIben at Central
NJ. L. Church Last Night.
At the Central Nj. Z. Church last evening
Rev. Mr. Filben preached upon the theme
of the prodigal son. An outline of the
discourse is as follows:
The story of the prodigal, as contained
IN this 18th chapter of st. Luke, is an old
story, and with the accessions of Oriental
life, but human nature in Its essential feat
ures varies so little with times or countries
that 1t has application to-day; and the
young man OF the story has companions
to-day. He is still type of youthful way
wardness
We first know him as despising the re-
stralnts OF his home life and early training,
that home goodly home, and that train
ing pious training presumably. A common
restlessness, and with most who indulge If
beginning of sin and the entrance to de-
gradaton. Probably his parents exercised
the ordinary care for their sons welfare.
and the ordinary discretion as to their sons
lndulgenees, and the young man re-
sented such interference with his liberty
and rights. He has followers now. Young
folks chafe that indulgences are inter
dlcted them, and even if brought to know
OF wrecks of character from the forbidden
lndulgences, they assume this to arise from
some peculiarly of temper or habit in the
victims, or assume kind of charmed life
Tor themselves that insures them immu-
nlty. Men are like moths every several
one must scorch wings in the tempting
name. Men make very little use of the
experiences of others. While our ewes
were put before that we might see the
chasm of other mems destruction, vet to
most men experience is like the stern lights
OF the ship which only iliumine the track
itself has passed. There is more excel
lent way but youth, especially, will not
learn It. Probably the claims of religion
were strongly urged upon the young man
IN his home. 1t were only an average Jew
ish home if this were so; the Jew was
faithful 10 the divine commands concern
ing the instruction of children in religion.
Young people resent this, and yet it
rs as much parents duty to
give night instruction in morals and
religion, as to give right ideas of life. At
tendance on the Synagogue was irksome.
and he promised himself freedom from
this restraint when his years came. But
the prodigal made a mistake; he learned
too late that his father knew something
OF sin and sought to set and to
hold MS feet in right life-paths.
And his greatest mistake lay in thinking
that the remedy for all this lay in getting
away from home. This is not a panacea
for all the ills of youthful life, this break
ing away. All wanderers confess this with
sad eloquence, by turning back with long
lngs to the very place and day of these re-
stralnts. The memory of home is the last
anchor TO drag in every day life; and the
last cable to snap in any experience even
n niqcOl n
men sigh for home, as did PAYNE, the
author Of the immortal ballad of u Home"
when refugee in foreign lands-as this
prodlgai did out on the mountains of his
poverty.
He got away, and had all the freedom and |
license that release implied, but the record |
is he found it very unsatisfactory. He put |
as much distance between himself and his |
home as he could, and tested the kind of |
3 he had been yearning to indulge under |
MS fathers roof, but to little profit. His !
way was all down hill This boy of clean
pure home wasted his substance in riot |
GUS living, and devoured his living with |
harlots. Once cast aGrift from the moor
ings OF propriety, and he is out on the |
boundless sea. Yet his case is not excep- |
honal. Many young men in every city
in this clty-are Just in mis- place |
having left home, and decided to leave the
traditions of that home behind and have
wrecked and are wrecking. Such may in
their change of surroundings think it
smart TO try the wings of their new found
freedom, but vainly. Right-minded men
do not admire the effort, nor esteem highly
these exhibitions of independence and
manliness, so called while for themselves
it is disaster. The prodigal kept going
lower and lower. Yet, despite his degrada-
ton, and painfully conscious of it, he would
not at the first return-he submitted to
anything rather than return, even to the
menial and to Jew, repulsive
occupation of feeding swine. But the
wages OF mis- occupation would not bring
him the necessaries of life. The surround
ings and return of sin will not satisfy any
one. No man is satisfied in sin till his con-
science is drugged, and then there are wax
ing spells in this stupor The soul of man
was not made for husks and imire. 1t was
made 10 soar and for royal food. Bread
had TO come down from heaven to be its
food. The prodigal learned wisdom in his
extremity. by thought OF COMPARISON of his
degraded estate with his birthright and his
waking up TO this the Scriptures call COM
ing to himself His companions in riot
and sin may have thought him mad, but
God terms it full sanity. Religion with its
restraints are rational, and it is folly for
men to beat out their lives against these
ramparts of the Eternal. Religion is part
of our furnishing, and uprightness is our
natural employment; we will be coming
to ourselves when we see this Since bis
privilege, his duty his folly he manifests
true repentance. In this great stress of
il he seems fearful of not humbling him
self enough. He frets to return, and his
father is represented as waiting for him.
His confession is interrupted by the free
bestowment of blessing-he receives recon
Citation and restoration.